PCS members at MOD and MOJ to strike on Monday

16 June 2013

Action in support of our national campaign against cuts to jobs, terms and conditions and service continues with a series of stoppages and walkouts on Monday (17 June) and Tuesday across the justice and defence sectors and the Forestry Commission.

Our members working for the Ministry of Justice, Crown Prosecution Service, Ministry of Defence, Forestry Commission, National Offender Management Service and G4S and Mitie staff working within the MoJ are all involved.

Supporting action

Branches have been organising activities to support the action. At lunchtime on Monday in Manchester city centre outside the civil justice centre in Bridge Street, our members from CPS, MoJ, G4S and Mitie will protest alongside campaign groups including Lawyers Against Legal Aid Cuts, Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit and the South Manchester Advice Centre.

The PCS samba band will play as the demonstration which Dave Vincent, MoJ Greater Manchester branch secretary describes as “by far the biggest ever seen outside this building and a display of wide unity against the government’s heartless cuts. We cannot wait until the 2015 general election. We need to provide the opportunity for people to get together to get the message across”.

Prominent pickets

Our MoD members are taking a full day of strike action on Monday 17 June, with picket lines being organised across the country and widespread disruption anticipated at sites including naval bases and military training establishments.

A prominent picket line will be held in Portsmouth close to HMS Victory and the new Mary Rose building, which should attract public and media attention.

Chris Dando, defence sector group president said: “The imposition of performance management changes this week will encourage our members to take part.

“Management within the department have reacted with panic by withdrawing from negotiations on a Fair Deal in Defence because we are taking strike action, proving that this government will use any excuse not to talk.”

Other members will be staging a series of half-day walkouts on Monday and Tuesday as part of our programme of national action against cuts to jobs, pay and terms and conditions. For G4S and Mitie staff (mostly security guards and cleaners), this is the first time they have been involved in action relating to the national campaign. They will be walking out from 1:30pm on Monday.